Boat



C. J. BAER.

, BOAT.

APPLICATION FILED JAN.24, 1921- 1 AQUJ a Patented Dec. 2Q, 1921..

2 SHEETS-SHEET I.

C. J. BAER.

BOAT.

APPLICATION FILED JAN-24.1921.

Patented Dec. 20, 1921.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

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@Wo'aueg CARL JQBAER, OF ST. LQUIS, MISS'UURI.

BOAT.

Specification of Letters Patent. Patented DQMB. 2% 19211 Applicationfiled January at, 1921. Serial No. 439,421.

To aZZ whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, CARL J. BAER, a citizen of the United States,residing at St. Louis, State of Missouri, have invented certain new anduseful Improvements in Boats, of which the following is a specification.

The invention broadly relates to the facilitation of the passage ofboats or barges through the water. More particularly, the inventionpertains to the provision of means adapted for attachment to a boat-likebody, whereby the water between said body and the adjacent body,connected thereto, may be inclosed and carried along with the connectedboats, thereby preventing free circulation of water between said boatsand eliminatin the retarding influence of draw-bac s and end thrusts.

The invention is especially adapted for use in connection with apluralit of boats or barges joined in a string. rdinarily such boat-likebodies (hereafter called barges), are of similar formation, providedwith abutting ends which are usually convexed to permit of rollingcontact in rounding curves. It is to be understood however that theinvention is applicable to barges of any suitable bow and stemformation, for it is obvious that, when two connected barges are passingthrough the water, no matter what the formation of the ends, the spacebetween the opposing ends of said barges is filled with water. In theabsence of any means for the prevention thereof the water freelycirculates between the ends of the barges, requiring constantdisplacement thereof as the barge moves. Under these circumstances, thepower which moves the barges must be suflicient to overcome thedraw-back effect at the stern of each, and also the end-thrust of thebow of every bar e in the string,

My invention contemplates the substantial inclosure of all the waterbetween the barges, whereby such water may be carried along therebetweenand, in effect, becomes a component of the string. Experiments haveproven that it is not necessary to provide an absolutely water-tightjoint between the barges; it is sufficient if a free circulation of thewater therebetween is prevented. The experiments hereinbefore referredto have disclosed the fact that a 20 per cent. increase of speed may beimparted to the barges by mclosing the water in the space between them,and carrying said water along as a unit of the string. An embodiment ofmy invention is shown 1n the accompanying drawings forming a part ofthis application. In said drawings: Figure l is a fragmentaryperspective view of two connected barges equipped with my invention.

Fig. 2 is an end view taken on a line between the two barges, the waterinclosing elements being shown in section.

Fig. is a view, partly in section, showing the spring roller and thebearing cup in the floor of the barge.

Fig. 4 is a detail showing a method of connecting the flexible apronsforming a part of my invention.

Fig. 5 is a partial sectional view showing a supplemental housing forthe spring roller.

Fig. 6 is a fragmentary sectional detail taken on a line lookingdownwardly upon the rollers.

As shown in the drawings, A and B are I two barges connected by acoupling 1 which permits turning movement of the arges. Each barge ishere shown as provided with convexed prows 2, whereby a rolling contactis facilitated, but my invention is'not limited to barges of this endformation, since it is equally adapted for use in connection with anytwo connected barges having a water space therebetween.

The end of each barge is provided with a vertical slot or recess, eitherby forming said recess directly in the body of the barge as shown inFigs. 1 and 2, or by a supplemental housing as indicated in Fig. 5. Ineither case, a roller 3 is mounted in said recess, and said roller maybe supported in vertical position by a shaft 4: connected thereto andextending upwardly through the deck of the barge. A hand-wheel or lever5 may be provided whereby manipulation of the roller is facilitated. Thelower end of the roller 3 is preferably provided with a tapered stem 6,

seated in a. cup-shaped bearing 7 in the floor I of the barge orof thesupplemental housing. The roller is internally provided with a coiledspring 8 so connected thereto as to constantly tend to rotate saidroller in one direction.

In the particular form here shown, the

' waterproof material.

shaft 4: extends through the roller 8 pro yided with a hub 3. The hub ais slotted to receive a key 3 a similar and complementary slot beingformed in the shaft 4. The key 3 looks the shaft and roller 3 so thatthey will rotate together.

The up er end of t tened to t e shaft 4 by a bolt 8 while the lower endof the spring is secured to .the roller. The shaft 4 is provided with apinion 4 with which engages a sprin pressed pawl l pivoted adjacent thesha t 4:. By this construction the roller 3 is held in any set osition.

C dnnected to each roller is a flexible apron C, of rubberized canvas orof an flexible As shown in Fig. 1 one of said rollers is mounted, asdescribed, in the recess at the side of and in the stern of the barge A.Similarly the bow of the barge B is provided with a roller, and theaprons extend between said rollers. Manifestly one long apron might beconnected at each end to the opposite rollers, but in ac tual operation,it is more convenient to form the apron in two sections and connect the'free ends in a manner to be hereinafter explained. With the bargesproceedingFi n the direction indicated by the arrow, 1g. 1, and an apronconnected as shown on each side of the boats, it is obvious that theaprons will prevent free lateral circulation of the water between theends of the barges.

I have before stated that the tendency of the spring 8 is always exertedto wind the roller in one direction. The roller on barge A exerts thistendency in opposition to the tendency of the roller on the barge B towind the roller in the opposite direction.

Consequently the apron is at all times kept taut, as will be understood.It is equally clear that any turning movement of the boats, in goingaround curves, will cause the apron to be taken up by one roller andpaid out by the other, thereby keeping the apron taut under alloperating conditions.

As before stated the apron C may 'be in one piece, but it is here shownin two sections, each section being provided adjacent if Manifestly',one of the rollers may be dispensed with if desired, and only one rollerrelied upon to carry the apron and keep it taut. In such case the freeend. of the apron e spring 8 is fas-.

moose? may be secured by hoops or-otherwise to the end or side of theconnected barge.

In the modification shown in Fig. 5, a box-like housing 12 is provided.Such housing 12 carries an upper flange 13 and a lower flange 14:, saidflanges being suitably secured to the top and bottom of the barge. Theroller 3 is positioned in said housing as shown, and it is obvious thatsuch construction adapts my dgvice for application to barges already inservice, without the necessity of cutting recesses therein.

From the foregoing the operation. of my device should be clear. The toof the apron 0 extends substantially a eye the water line and the loweredge of the apron extends substantially in the plane of the bottom ofthe barge. This construction prevents free lateral circulation of thewater between the ends of the barges and tends to so inclose the trappedwater in Said space so that it may be carried along as a unit in themovements of the barges. 1

The possible modifications of my invention are numerous, but I claim allsuch embodiments as fall within the scope of the appended claims. 1 i

I claim:

1. The combination between two connected boats having a water spacetherebetween, of flexible members extending between said boats andinclosing said space at the sides, and means retaining said members intheir extended position.

2. The combination between two connected boats having a water spacetherebetween, of flexible members extending between said boats andinclosing said'space at the sides, and meansv resiliently retaining saidmembers in their extended position.

3. The combination between two connected boats having a water spacetherebetween, of flexible members extending be-.

tween said boats and inclosing said space at the sides, and meansretaining said members. in their extended position under all movementsof said boats.

4. The combination between two ,con-

nected boats having a water space therebetween, of flexible membersextending between said boats and inclosing said space at the sides,animals resiliently retaining said members in their extended positionunder all movements of said boats. 5. The combination between twoconnected boatshaving a water space therebetween, of; flexible membersextending between said boats and inclosing said space at the sides,rollers carried by said boats and adapted to receive said members, andmeans resiliently exerting its influence upon said rollers and tendingto cause them to retain said members in extended position.

6; The combination between two connected boats having a water spacetherebemower adapted to inclose the sides of said space, said meanscomprising rollers carried on each side of each boat and flexiblesections 10 carried by said rollers and connected each to each.

In testimony whereof I afiix my signature.

CARL J. BAER.

